Oresnik’s main point is propaganda, Ukraine says
Oreshnik warheads descending on Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast, May 26 (Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
The more Ukrainians discuss the Oreshnik
intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) and fixate on its ability to carry
nuclear warheads, the more they play into the Kremlin’s hands, Ukrainian Air
Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told NV Radio on May 26.
“Friends, I’ve already told you that the more we talk about Oreshnik and use the word ‘nuclear charge,’ the more we play into the hands of the Kremlin, [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin and others,” Ihnat said.
“Their main goal is to say, ‘We can launch Oreshnik at one city, another, a third — we can do it deep into the rear of Europe.’ They say it may carry a certain warhead, including a nuclear one. Primarily, this weapon is used for effect and intimidation.”
Ihnat warned that repeated use of the word “nuclear” in Ukrainian media helps Putin achieve that aim.
“They want to stress that they have a nuclear triad, that they have many tactical nuclear warheads, and you know that cruise missiles can be carriers. So honestly, we should avoid feeding into that,” he said.
On May 24, Russia attacked Ukraine with an Oreshnik
missile for the third time, targeting a seemingly unremarkable area in Bila
Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast. The missile was designed to carry nuclear MIRVs and
therefore relies on “dummy” warheads in conventional configuration, damaging
targets purely through the kinetic energy of its impacts.
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